Lauren's Peru Blog

Los Animales de Peru

2007-03-16T12:42:00.000-07:00

The Amazon Basin is home to 57 endangered species and more than 100 species of New World monkeys. There are more than 3,000 fish species in Amazon, representing 85% of all species living in South America, and 15% of the species in the world. However, only 40% of these species have been studied by scientists, and about 36 fish species are economically exploited.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Fauna_of_Peru
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fauna_en_el_PerÃº
http://www.amazon-tours.com/tourism-bolivia/fauna.html

Mammals:
Lowland Tapir:

-Can be found near water in the Amazon Rainforest.
-Is an excellent swimmer and diver but also moves fast on land.
-Is recognized as an endangered animal species.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowland_Tapir

Jaguar:
-Is the third-largest feline after the Siberian tiger and the lion, being on average the largest and most powerful feline in the Western Hemisphere.
-In the Brazilian Pantanal region found average weights of 100 kilograms (220 lb).
-Prefers large prey and will take deer, tapirs, peccaries, dogs, and even anacondas and caiman.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar

Hoffman's Two-Toed Sloth:
-Are found in the rainforest canopy in Central and South America.
-Spend most of their time in trees, though they may travel on the ground to move to a new tree, and are excellent swimmers.
-Their fur, unlike other mammals, flows from belly to top, not top to belly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoffmann

Amazonian Manatee:

-Is the largest aquatic mammal in the Amazon Basin.
-Can reach a length of 3 meters and a weight of up to 300 kg.
-Is an endangered species.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manatee

Giant Otter:
-Can reach up to 6 ft (1.8 m) in length, and weigh 76 lb (34 kg) in weight.
-Is one of the largest predators of its region.
-Feeds mainly on fish, such as catfish, piranha, and perch, but will also feed on crabs, small caimans, and snakes, including small anacondas.
-Is an endangered species.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_otter

Capybara: -Is the largest of living rodents
-Full-grown capybaras reach 105 to 135 cm (40 to 55 inches) in length, and weigh 35 to 65 kg (75 to 140 lbs).
-Spend most of their life in water.
-Their ears, eyes, and nostrils are on the top of its head because it spends much of its time in water.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capybara

Howler Monkey:
-Are among the largest of the New World monkeys,
-Their name comes from their distinctive loud barking whoop they make, which can be heard over considerable distances.
-They rest about 80 percent of the time and are considered the least active of all monkeys.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howler_monkey

Birds:
Macaw:
-Is the largest bird from tropical regions.

http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/02004/pages/macaw.htm

Toucan:

-Is frugivorous (fruit-eating), but will take prey such as insects and small lizards.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toucan
http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/02004/pages/toucan.htm

Reptiles and Amphibians:
Amazonian Rainforest Caiman:
-Is a very large reptile, often reaching four meters long.
-Is nocturnal.
-It's diet consists of fish, reptiles, and mammals, such as the capybara.

http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/02004/pages/caiman.htm

Poison Dart Frogs:
-Live on the rainforest floor and are active in the daytime.
-About two and a half grams of the poison dart frog’s poison could kill a 150 pound human.
-Generally range between ½ an inch to 2 inches.

http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/02004/pages/frog.htm

Green Anaconda:

-Have been reliably reported in the 9 metre range (30 feet) in length.
-can weigh 551 pounds) and have a diameter of more than 30 cm (11.8 inches), but averages 275-330 lbs.
-They typically feed on large rodents, tapirs, capybaras, deer, peccaries, fish, turtles, birds, sheep, dogs, and aquatic reptiles like caiman.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaconda

Insects:
Leaf Cutter Ant:

-Are one of the primary consumers of vegetation in the Amazon.
-Do not actually feast leaves, but on fungus.
-Their large jaws are strong enough to break human skin.

http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/02004/pages/ant.htm

Rhino Beetles:
-Are the strongest creature on earth, able to support 850 times its own weight.

http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/02004/pages/beetle.htm

Bird Eating Spider:
-Have up to a 30 centimetre (12 in) long leg span when fully extended and can weigh over 120 grams.
-Females have an average life span of 6 to 14 years.
-Is one of the few tarantulas which can capture and eat a full-grown mouse.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_eating_spider

Religions in Peru

2007-03-16T06:13:00.000-07:00

-The Constitution of 1979 guarantees freedom of religion-89% Catholic, 7.1% Protestant, 1% Animist, 2.9% Others
-Among the major religious communities were the Roman Catholic, various Protestant denominations (including Baptists, Anglican, Assembly of God, and many others), Seventh-day Adventist, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Jehovah's Witnesses, Judaism, Baha'i Faith, Hare Krishna, and Islam.

http://www.amautaspanish.com/amautaspanish/english/peru/religion.asp
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71471.htm
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-28050/Peru
http://www.livetravelguides.com/south-america/peru/peru-overview/religion-in-peru/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Religion_in_Peru
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=PE&sf=primaryreligion&so=asc&lr=N

Roman Catholic:
- Catholics compose an estimated 80% of Peru's population (approximately 22,400,000 members).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_in_Peru

Protestant:
-Evangelicals: 5.6% of population

Islam:
-total Muslim population of 837, representing 0.003 percent of the population
-The Latin American Muslim Unity (LAMU) organization, based in Fresno, California, United States, has drawn up a proposal for the first Islamic orphanage in Peru, in order to deal with the current crisis of homeless children.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Peru

Ethnic Religions:
-Indigenous peoples in the remote eastern jungles also practiced traditional faiths.
-Shamans (both real and fake) in the Amazon offer experiences with Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic vine that is often credited with giving visions. Cusco is also considered a center for new age “energy.”
-Over the centuries, Spanish priests managed to stamp out most of the traces of native religion, but some structures and beliefs remained. Cuzco’s temples were built over but not totally destroyed, and some of the foundations can still be seen. In a religious melding process known as “syncretism,” some churches combine elements of native religion with Christianity.
-Since the 16th century, along with Catholicism, expressions of the native religion, based on the cult of the Sun, the Pachamama (Mother Earth) and elements of nature, have also been present. -Ancient Peru had various polytheistic and pantheistic religions. The most important gods were Viracocha (lord, creator, and father of men) and Pacha Mama (Earth mother). The Sun, Moon, and such phenomena as lightning and mountains were also worshiped. Each culture raised temples to honor its local divinity.

Languages of Peru

2007-03-15T13:37:00.000-07:00

Peru has three official languages, Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara.

Spanish:

-Spanish is spoken by some 80.3% of the population of Peru, and is the language used by government, media, and in education and formal commerce.

-In Peru, the most common language is Spanish, which is spoken with three dialects within the country:

Peruvian riverside Spanish
Andes Spanish
Amazonian Spanish

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peruvian_Coast_Spanish
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_language

Aymara:

-Aymara is an Aymaran language spoken by the Aymara of the Andes.
-There are 300,000 Peruvian Aymara speakers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aymara_language

Quechua:

-Was the language of the Inca Empire, and is today spoken in various dialects by some 10 million people (Quechuas) throughout South America
-It is the most widely spoken of all the languages of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas.
-Number of speakes in Peru is 3,200,000

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quechua

Quechua, Napo Lowland:
-Is spoken near the city of Iquitos
-Has New Testament translated into their language
-8,000 speakers in Peru
-Majority lives in Napo River Region. Also communities on the Putumayo. Some were moved to Madre de Dios. Also spoken in Colombia, Ecuador.

http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=qvo

Indigenous Languages:

-The aboriginal languages of Peru are spoken mainly in the central Andes and in the Amazon forests.
-While the Amazonian region is home to a great variety of languages, the most commonly spoken ones are Ashaninka and Aguaruna, not to mention lesser known languages, such as Urarina, which is deemed by most linguists as an unclassified language isolate.
-The number of languages that were used in Peru easily surpasses 300; some observers speak of 700.
-throughout the jungle region of Peru, about 98 different languages are spoken

Here are some languages that are spoken around the city of Iquitos:

Yagua:
-Population is 5,692 in Peru (2000 WCD). 2,000 monolinguals.
-Loreto, northeastern Amazon River Region, from Iquitos to the Brazil border. Some go to urban centers like Iquitos for economic reasons. Some occasionally go into Brazil. Also spoken in Colombia.

http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=yad

Iquito:
-Population in Peru is 35 (2002 SIL). 1 monolingual.
-Majority in Loreto Province, Pintoyacu, Nanay, and Chambira rivers, villages of San Antonia and Atalaya.

Omagua:
-language is nearly extinct
-Population is 10 to 100 in Peru (1976 SIL).

http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=Peru

Adventures in Missions

2007-03-15T06:33:00.000-07:00

“Follow God, Reach our world.”

Ages 15 and up, AIM (Adventures In Missions) is an interdenominational missions organization that focuses on discipling. We emphasize prayer and relationships in our work among the poor.

In the 17 years since we were established, we have taken 65,000 people to the mission field, some for a year or longer.

Through our 14 bases around the world, we have year-round ministry to places where “the least of these” are found. We believe that by giving people the opportunity to hold orphans, bring hope to the hopeless, and pray for the sick, lives are transformed. We seek to disciple as Jesus did – our vision is that God would use us to raise up a generation of radically committed disciples of Jesus Christ!

Statement of Faith:

We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and is authoritative and infallible in the original writings.

We believe in one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of God the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.

We believe that faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is essential for the salvation of lost and sinful man.

We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.

We believe in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and eternal life.

We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in Jesus Christ

Countries Teams Go To:

USA
Kenya
Lesotho
Madagascar
South Africa
Swaziland
Russia
Dominican Republic
Jamaica
Costa Rica
Guatemala
England
Ireland
Kosovo
India
Peru

www.adventures.org

Indigenous People Near Iquitos

2007-03-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

On my trip we will we stopping at different tribal villages and sharing the gospel. I have no idea what indigenous people group we'll meet so I researched the main groups of the region.

The Region:
Peru is divided into eight regions. Iquitos is located in the Loreto region of Peru.

The Loreto region is divided into seven provinces:

Alto Amazonas
Datem de Marañón
Loreto
Mariscal Ramón Castilla
Maynas
Requena
Ucayali

Iquitos is located in the Maynas province. The Maynas province is divided into twelve districts.

Alto Nanay
Belén
Fernando Lores
Indiana
Iquitos
Las Amazonas
Mazán
Napo
Punchana
Putumayo
San Juan Bautista
Torres Causana

Iquitos is located in the Iquitos district.

The People:

In the Maynas province there are five main indigenous families.

HUITOTO:
Bora:
-New Testament was translated in 1982. Some portions of the Bible are translated.
-speak a Witotan language
-are an indigenous tribe of the Peruvian, Colombian and Brazilian Amazon
-are located between the Putumayo and Napo rivers
-worldview: In the animist Bora worldview, there is no distinction between the physical and spiritual worlds and spirits are present throughout the world. Plants, especially trees, hold a complex and important interest for the Bora. -live near San Andrés Village on the Nanay River -native community consists of about 3,000 native-speakers almost all living in Peru (about 2000 individuals) and Colombia (about 1000 people)
-Con 371 personas, los boras representan 0,15% de la población indígena censada.
-Located in the Putumayo district on the rivers: Ampiyacu, Putumayo y Yahuasyacu
http://www.amazon-indians.org/page12.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bora_people
http://www.peruecologico.com.pe/etnias_bora.htm http://www.joshuaproject.net/peopctry.php?rop3=210265&rog3=PE

Huitoto
-Con un total de 1917 personas, los huitoto (muiname, 105 individuos; meneca 676; y murui, 1136) constituyen el 0,80% de la población indígena censada en 1993.
-Located in the Indiana, Napo, Punchana, and Putumayo districts on the riveres: Ampiyacu y Putumayo, Napo, Nanay, Yaguasyacu
http://www.peruecologico.com.pe/etnias_huitoto.htm

PEBA-YAGUA:
Yagua:
-3,000 to 4,000 Yagua people in northeastern Peru
-Located in the Indiana, Las Amazonas, and Putumayo districts on the rivers: Amazonas y afluentes, Nanay y Atacuari
http://www.peruecologico.com.pe/etnias_yagua.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yagua
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peba-yagua_languages

TUCANO:
Orejón:
-Located in the Mazan, Napo, & Putumayo districts on the rivers: Yanayacu, Sucusari, Algodón y Putumayo
-Con 288 individuos en 1933, los orejones constituyen sólo 0,12% del total de la población indígena censada
http://www.peruecologico.com.pe/etnias_orejon.htm
http://www.joshuaproject.net/peopctry.php?rop3=107675&rog3=PE

TUPI-GUARANÍ:
Cocoma-Cocamilla:
-located in the Putumayo district
-Este grupo con sus 10 705 personas empadronadas constituye 4,47% del total de la población indígena censada.
-Parts of the bible have been translated into the language.
-The majority of speakers, 2,000, live in Perú out of an Ethnic population of 15,000
http://www.peruecologico.com.pe/etnias_cocama.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupi-GuaranÃ
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocomas
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocama-Cocamilla

ZAPARO:
Arabela:
-Have New Testament in language (1986)
-Located in Napa district on the Arabela River
-Este pequeño grupo de sólo 302 personas representa 0,13% de la población indígena censada
-two Peruvian villages in tropical forest along the Napo tributary of the Arabela river
http://www.peruecologico.com.pe/etnias_arabela.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaparo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabela
http://www.joshuaproject.net/peopctry.php?rop3=100429&rog3=PE

Iquito:
–Located in Alto Nanay district on the Alto Nanay River
-approx. 234 population
http://www.peruecologico.com.pe/etnias_iquito.htm
http://www.joshuaproject.net/peopctry.php?rop3=104045&rog3=PE

Amazon River

2007-03-14T16:38:00.000-07:00

Iquitos is the largest city in the rainforest of Peru and is considered the largest city in the world that cannot be reached by road, only by airplane or boat. The population is approx. 400,000 people which is roughly the size of Walnut Creek, CA. Above is a picture I took from Google Earth comparing the size of Iquitos to the grand size of the Amazon River.

This summer I will have the amazing and terrifying opportunity to travel on the Amazon River. Here are some facts about the Amazon:

At its widest point the Amazon River can be 11km/6.8 mi wide during the dry season.
The Amazon River the largest river in the world by volume, with greater total river flow than the next eight largest rivers combined.
The average depth of the river in the height of the rainy season is 40 m (120 ft).
The Amazon is home to the Anaconda snake and my greatest fear: the Piranha!

FISH!!

I have a fear of fish. Here are pictures of fish I have found that live in the Amazon river:

Piranhas - Are a group of carnivorous freshwater fish living in South American rivers.They are known for their sharp teeth and an aggressive appetite for meat and flesh. They also have taste buds which cover their entire bodies. "It is thought a shoal of the fish devoured up to 300 people when their boat capsized and sank near Obidos in Brazil in September 1981."

Arapaimas or Pirarucus - The world's largest fish. Maximum length of 9.8 feet and weight of 440 lbs. Diet includes other fish and small animals, like birds. Has the ability to breathe air from the surface due to a lung-like lining of its throat.

Boto or Pink River Dolphin - Is a freshwater river dolphin endemic to the Amazon River. Largest of river dolphins. The 1994 and 200 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classified it as vulnerable.

As long as the boat doesn't sink or I fall in the water, I should be fine?